I want to dispel the myth that MySpace is for teens alone, in fact I’m hearing more and more from folks that it’s indeed crossing the middle segment of age and culture. According to SFSU Prof Dr John Sullivan:

“More than 80 percent of the site’s registered members fall into the core demographic of 16-to-34-year-olds. Note that this demographic includes a large quantity of college-educated professionals with as much as 13 years of work experience…” (outside the box recruiting)

Also, others are noting that MySpace is growing up:

MySpace, the cyber home of countless teens and 20-somethings, is attracting more interest from an older crowd. In fact, the News Corp. (NWS – commentary – Cramer’s Take) site has recently experienced declines in its audience aged 12 to 17, 12 to 24 and 12 to 34, while seeing increases in the 21-to-34, 25-to-34, and 35-to-54 demographics, according to data from comScore Networks. (MySpace grows up)

Interview with MySpace User: 52 year old parent and Martial Arts Instructor
To learn more, I’ve done an interview with a MySpace user (John, a parent and respected silicon valley profesional) that doesn’t fit the young teen audience, let’s hear from John:

1) How old are you? (you can say early 40s, or mid 40s if not your specifics)
Ha. My Myspace page gives my age – 52. Myspace pages show your age – you can lie – but you have to give a birthdate.

2) When did you first start using MySpace and why?
Around March of 2006. I teach cardio kickboxing at a gym called WAMA and was seeking SEO strategies to drive people to the WAMA website. I have a younger friend who started another fitness studio and she made a Myspace page, which was a huge hit with her friends and people who took her classes. I also noticed that the Myspace pages in general had high google rankings (long story). So I made a page for myself, with hotlinks to the WAMA web site.

3) What are your primary reasons for using MySpace, which features suit you best? How frequent do you use it?
My primary reason was attracting people to my cardio kickboxing classes. I like the free-form nature of Myspace page creation which lends itself to creative expression. The multimedia effect of having sound as a standard feature, and of being able to integrate whatever graphics you choose either as backgrounds or individual pictures. Of being able to use hotlinks to offsite locations. It was a lot of fun building the page. I usually log in once a week or so, or whenever Myspace sends me mail telling me someone is trying to contact me.

4) What type of people do you interact with, are they similar to you?
Unlike my friend Paige, I have had little luck getting my local peers to make Myspace pages. Martial artists over 30 are often not very interested in online networking. Most of my interactions are with people from around the world who have similar interests in the fitness space. I did work with the friend who owns WAMA to make a WAMA Myspace page that is pretty closely integrated into the WAMA website.

5) Do you have concerns for online behaviors in MySpace, and what would you recommend ?
No real concerns. If you pay attention to the Myspace guidelines (don’t use full names, don’t give personal contact details). I think the press makes a lot of noise about problems on Myspace because it sells… I found my son (17) had a Myspace page, I’d advise parents to ask their children about their web activities, just as they would ask them where they went at night.

6) If social sites like MySpace were not around, how would you communicate with your network?
Well, I primarily use Myspace for advertising. I am beginning to use Myspace for networking, but I still use Linkedin and direct email more. But I’m an old goat. I don’t even text message…

7) In your personal time, what else do you do online?
Research things I’m interested in. Read the news. Read blogs. Track new web applications (web 2.0esque – have you seen swarm?). Build websites and post things I’ve written. Keep in touch with old friends.

Thank you John for your time, you’re one of the individuals I’ve been so impressed with that adopts and harnesses technology very rapidly. If others have folks for John (or just want to be his MySpace friend) please leave a question below, and perhaps he’ll have the time to answer, once he’s done hanging out in MySpace.
Additional Resources:

I headed to the launch party with Mario, ran into the usual suspects I see at most events. During the presentation videos, I was very impressed by the rich and well produced content. It’s really a lifestyle channel, that’s a bit edgier and more raw than traditional TV. In fact they are specially aiming to be the opposite of MTV. After the introductions, videos ran and played clips of all the shows.

First broadcast television. Then cable television. Now, you can kill your television. Revision3 aims to prove that on-demand, distributed online content is better, faster, more effective, and better targeted to what YOU want to watch.

Tonight, September 26th, Revision3 launches their brand new website with all-new shows, all-new faces, and a few surprises that are sure to turn some heads! And all the familiar Revision3 faces are back with some new episodes, too! You might even find something new from the show that started it all! So raise your drinking glass of malt liquor and share a toast with Revision3 as we push IPTV to the next level. (revision 3 site)

Here’s how I can describe the shows that will be coming; fast, unique, edgier, under 30ish, lifestyle, geek. Those around me noticed that unlike other geek events the crowd was super charged with screaming, dancing, and everyone having a great time partying. It was a welcome change from the business networking events I’m accustomed to attending.

Distribution of course will be native to the web, or for fatter downloads you’ll use bit torrent. I’m sure that many shows will be subscribed to mobile devices, and with products like Tivo, Slingbox, and other IPTV technologies, you’ll be able to take in their content in a variety of ways that you want, another example of how the consumers are taking charge.

Ryan Carson likes my photos!
I was given a ‘press’ pass to the Future of Web Apps Conference, I blogged about Day 1 and Day 2. Ryan Carson, the founder and director, sent this thank you email to all the attendees of Carson’s Future of Web Apps:

“Event coverage Re-live those Summit moments 🙂

There’s some great coverage of the event from Scott Beale and Jeremiah Owyang (links below), or view a wider Flickr selection with the Summit tag – futureofwebapps-sf06

First of all, to put me anywhere near the mastery of the Scott’s photos is just amazing, he’s the photoblog master. Carson Systems, thanks for the ‘press’ pass to the conference, I’m glad I was able to give back to your event.
About my photo Strategy
I used just a commercial grade consumer camera, it’s under 500 dollars, and fits in my pocket, my strategy is to take a lot of photos (it’s the Asian in me) and use the smaller camera to get right up in the action in an unassuming manner. Sometimes I get the best shots from folks that had no idea a camera was present. Of course I’m sensitive not to post embarrassing photos, and often ask strangers if I can shoot their pic first…then I silently disappear into the thick dense foliage.

The bad news
My camera is no longer with me. I noticed it gone after taking a public bus in downtown Chicago going down Michigan Street, I took a photo while on the bus, so I know that’s when I last had it. My instincts suggest that I was pick pocketed (although I’m usually so careful about these things).

Camera Recommendations needed
So I’m looking for recommendations for cameras under $450, any suggestions? As you know I’m really into peer review, I’ve done my homework with editor and consumer reviews Here are my Requirements:

It needs to be fast: turn on fast, take pics fast.

Fit in my pocket: I run around with it on me all the time, it needs to be small

Take crisp pictures rapidly. The Sony P200 I had often had blurry pics.

Should not have proprietary technology like “Memory Stick”.

I’m thinking a Canon SD700, its about $350 via amazon. Based upon my discussions with photography friends, most agree it would do the trick.

If you haven’t had a vacation in a while, I suggest you take a virtual visit to paradise with Ahmed Zahid’s amazing photography.

Check out Ahmed’s Pictures of Paradise
He’s travelling through the Maldives, writing to this photoblog, and publishing his photos to his growing flickr collection.
It’s interesting how social media empowers everyone to upload photos and professional photographers can easily publish their work without a middleman. (Such as Shutterpoint, and ImageDisplayworks). Now that I think about it, that would be a great feature for Flickr/Zooomr to add on.

The blue colors in Ahmed’s photos really relax me, learn more about him in this interview with him. Ahmed, thanks for helping us escape into your paradise.